The Northeast Coast campaign of 1750 occurred during Father Le Loutre's War from 11 September to December 1750. The Norridgewock as well as the Abenaki from St. Francois and Trois-Rivières, Quebec raided British settlements along the Acadia/ New England border in present-day Maine.
Historical context By the end of King George's War, there was a long history of the Wabanaki Confederacy and the Abenaki from Quebec attacking British settlements encroaching toward the border of Acadia, the Kennebec River. On October 28, 1748, at the end of King George's War, the Acadians and Mi'kmaq prevented John Gorham from landing to acquire an oath of allegiance. His rangers were fired upon; killing three of the rangers and wounding three, while Gorham took two Mi'kmaq prisoner. A Particular History of the Five Years French and Indian War in New England ... By Samuel Gardner Drake, William Shirlep. 174 In response, Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière, the governor of New France indicated that, in retaliation for British aggression, the native raids on the border may resume.Count de la Galissonniere, Governor of Canada, to Governor Mascarene, 15th January, 1749, p. 263-264; Governor Mascarene t oCount de la Galissonniere, 25th April, 1749, p. 366; Governor Shirley to Count de la Galissonniere, May 9, 1749. Selections from the public documents of the province of Nova Scotia. P. 370 At this time Mi'kmaq were given arms at Quebec to attack Fort St. Georges.
The Wabanaki Confederacy of Acadia retaliated for the founding of Halifax by attacking New England settlements along the coast of present-day Maine, below the Kennebec River, the former border of Acadia. In 1750, the natives attacked Falmouth killing one on June 8, 1750. In July 1750, natives took seven prisoners captive at New Meadows.Williamson, p.272.
Campaign Wabanaki conducted the 1750 campaign against 10 settlements killing 2 and taking captive 24 people starting on 11 September.Thayer, p. 192 CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE PROVINCE OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY By GEORGE RICHARDS MINOT, p. 140-142 Tarrantines were suspected of being involved on the raid on Fort Richmond. Wabanaki raided Richmond (Fort Richmond), Dresden, Swan Island, Wikcasset, Sheepscot, Parker's Island, Georgetown, Maquoit, Windham, Gorhamtown, and New Gloucester. Williamson . The History of the State of Maine: P. 268 - 272On 16 October 1749 there was peace treaty signed with some of the Eastern Indians (See Collections of the Maine Historical Society, Volume 4 p. 160)
On September 8, on Swan Island near Fort Richmond, 60 Norridgewock and St. Francis natives attacked two families who were in one dwelling, two were saved while 14 were taken captive.Thayer. The Indian Administration of Justice: The Sequel to the Wiscasset Tragedy. Maine Historical Society. p.185 Later the same day the natives began to attack the fort for three hours, which had seven soldiers defending it. As they withdrew that took one prisoner and burned crops.Thayer, p. 189 On September 9, they attacked Wiscasset and Sheepscot, where they took two captives.Thayer, p. 190 September 10, they took captive a man at Berwick.Thayer, p. 191 On September 11, there is a report that natives attacked Fort Richmond for 2–3 days, killing cattle and taking off 12-13 cattle.p. 84 On Sept 21, natives attacked New Marblehead (Windham) and captured one prisoner.p.89-90 By Sept. 26, along the border, natives captured 17 people on the border, wounded two and killed one.p. 92
Aftermath In the spring of 1751, the natives captured three boys at New Yarmouth.Thayer, p. 192 On June 8, natives killed a man close to Falmouth. In July, natives took seven prisoners at New Meadows.Williamson, p. 272 Toward the end of June, they again attacked Fort Richmond.Thayer, p. 192 Two weeks later they took captive 6 men and killed 1.Thayer, p. 192
There was a Peace Treaty of 1752 signed August 3 at Fort St. Georges. The Mi'kmaq and the St. Francois natives were not present. Williamson, p. 272
The raids continued once the British started to establish forts along the Kennebec River in 1754. During the war, along the former border of Acadia, the Kennebec River, the British built Fort Halifax (Winslow), Fort Shirley (Dresden, formerly Frankfurt) and Fort Western (Augusta).Attacks on these forts continued through Father Le Loutre's War (See Maine Historical Society).Charles Morris had intelligence from Acadians that another Northeast Coast campaign was planned for 1755 (See Charles Morris)
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